Liffey Valley Shopping Centre developer Owen O’Callaghan passes away after short illness

THE DEVELOPER of the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Owen O’Callaghan has died in Cork following a short illness.

Mr O’Callaghan (76), founder of O’Callaghan Properties and the developer behind some of the biggest shopping centres in the country, passed away in hospital on Sunday night after taking ill on Christmas Day.

A native of Ballincollig, Mr O’Callaghan worked originally as a chartered surveyor for Cork engineering firm, O’Connell and Harley in the mid-60s.

He left in 1969 to set up his own company, OMAC which began by building houses and warehouses but by the early 1980s, he turned his attention to developing shopping centres.

He began by developing the Paul Street Shopping Centre in Cork and he went on to develop Merchant’s Quay, Douglas Shopping Centre, North Main Street and Mahon Point in Cork.

He became embroiled in controversy over his development of the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre which led to his appearance before the planning tribunals.

Mr O’Callaghan is survived by his wife, Sheelagh, son Brian and daughter, Zelda and is predeceased by his daughter, Hazel who died in 2002 at the age of 22 after suffering a serious head injury during a show jumping accident.